Stacey Klimovitch shooting: Murder probe continues into death of Stockton grandmother

Police have been scouring the small community of Stockton for CCTV as they continue to hunt for the person who shot dead grandmother Stacey Klimovitch on her doorstep.

Detectives will delve deeply into the life of shotgun murder victim Stacey Klimovitch as they work on who may have wanted the Stockton grandmother dead.

Stacey Klimovitch was shot dead at Stockton. Picture: Facebook

Strike Force Backhouse investigators have also been scouring the small peninsula community for CCTV footage which shows the killer’s movements as they arrive and escape the scene of the horrific slaying on Wednesday evening.

They remain certain the murder was a targeted attack on the much-loved 61-year-old, who was killed with a single shotgun blast through the screen door of her Queen St home as her daughter and newborn grandchild were in another part of the small flat.

But who is responsible remains a mystery, with detectives and analysts working overtime to build a picture of Ms Klimovitch’s life in the lead-up to her death.

They have also sent away evidence from a crude chlorine bomb, which had been recovered by a neighbour of Ms Klimovitch’s some time ago, for urgent forensic examination.

However, it remains uncertain whether the incendiary device has anything to do with last week’s murder.

Forensic police are on the scene of a fatal shooting at Queen St, Stockton. Strike Force Backhouse is investigating. Picture: Emily Burley.

The town’s latest horrific crime is not related to the disappearance and suspected murder of Nelson Bay man Steven Fenwick, who is believed to have been killed in Stockton and his body dumped somewhere more than two years ago.

That case also remains unsolved and is at the centre of another Newcastle City police district strike force.

Detectives have already interviewed Ms Klimovitch’s devastated daughter Alex, who was inside the flat with her eight-week-old child when she heard the shotgun blast which killed her mother.

A specially-formed strike force is looking for a killer after a woman was shot dead at Newcastle. Picture: Daniel Irwin

But they will be taking detailed statements from other relatives and friends as they work to paint a picture of the former swimming teacher’s life.

It will all be analysed as part of a homicide investigation’s “victimology’’ process, where investigators attempt to identify any parts of a victim’s life which could point to why they have been targeted.

Strike Force Backhouse detectives are readying themselves for a drawn-out investigation.

They have renewed an appeal for CCTV and dashcam footage in and around Stockton both before and after the murder, which occurred about 8pm.

Forensic police are investigating a fatal shooting at Queen St, Stockton. Picture: Emily Burley.

Newcastle City commander Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey revealed on Sydney radio on Friday that investigators had found some footage of the suspected killer as they scanned CCTV video from home security cameras located at residences near the crime scene.